Return to Main Menu

HCC tower opens, expands patient care services by Cindy Abole Public Relations It is less than four years since MUSC officials broke ground on the Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) Expansion Project. Now that the project is complete, patients, physicians and staff can settle into spacious clinical surroundings and functional lab facilities. The move reunites the majority of the center’s cancer programs under one roof, expanding the level of quality cancer care and cutting edge research to the people of South Carolina.   On Aug. 29, the $40 million facility opened its doors for business.     The seven-story modern structure creates an additional 116,000 square feet of much-needed clinic, lab and administrative space. Its presence fulfills the center’s long-realized dream of providing patients with world-class cancer care. The building is a major step towards the university's goal of becoming a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.      “To arrive at this turning point has been a multi-level achievement,” said Andrew Kraft, M.D., HCC director. “The project’s success stemmed simply from teamwork and the cooperative efforts of more than 125 HCC clinical, administrative and support staffs, plus additional medical center and university personnel committed to the expansion and project’s multi-phase completion.”      During the last four years as the first phase of the facility was built, HCC clinics and services were relocated to temporary space within Rutledge Tower and other hospital locations. Several HCC clinics, day treatment/chemotherapy, pharmacy, outpatient radiology and lab services were also included in this change, while research labs, administrative functions and some clinics and services operated from the original HCC building. With the new tower facility completed this past summer, the task of moving staffs and clinics was placed on HCC building project manager Jeannette Scott, consultant Cathy Harvey, Dr.Ph., nurse manager Peggy Anthony, R.N., and HCC business manager Casey Liddy.      A Looking Glass volunteer unpacks boxes in their new home on the HCC facility's second floor. From the beginning, project planners strived to keep the center’s theme of providing a multidisciplinary, first-class cancer care approach and patient-centered philosophy at the heart of all design and construction. Everything from the open floor plan of the new multidisciplinary clinic suites to the chair styles and furniture groupings that complement patient waiting rooms and exam areas speak of attention to that detail.      Patients and clinical personnel especially applaud the design and functionality of four multidisciplinary clinical suites to accommodate patient clinical activities. The suites, or pavilions, aptly named, represent  three Lowcountry rivers—the Ashley, Stono, Cooper—and new Women’s pavilions. Each area consists of a broad reception area and multi-style waiting room. Each of the suites, located on the second and third floors, consists of a block of a dozen or more exam and specialty procedure rooms, plus consultation areas. At its center is a staff work complex anchored at either end with physician workrooms and computer/dictation sites.     HCC patients are treated to wide open spaces and contemporary design in the multi-style waiting rooms. “This is a fantastic example of functional generic clinical space,” said Carolyn Reed, M.D., cardiothoracic surgery, associate director for HCC clinical affairs and former director who spearheaded the expansion project. “The areas are universal and are only distinguished by specialty equipment found in certain rooms.” According to Reed, the clinical layout idea was borrowed following an exploratory visit to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. “Physicians, nurses and clinical staff now have a quiet area to think, dictate notes, confer with colleagues and teach medical students and residents without feeling too confined and bumping into one another.”      As plans for the move grew closer, Scott, Anthony and the HCC move team coordinated with clinical staff to arrange the staggered transition of 16 clinics/services, administrative groups and research labs and settlement into the new facility by the end of August.   During the interim, HCC staff never missed a beat when it came to accommodating patients and providing continuous patient care in the most comfortable, stress-free manner, according to Carol Sherman, M.D., HCC medical director and interim chief director of hematology/oncology.      “People have done an incredible job moving equipment and helping us set up operations while maintaining services and accommodating HCC patient needs,” said Anthony, who also served as an original member of the project’s planning team. “Hospital departments including pharmacy, lab services and radiology did an excellent job helping us establish services, equipment and communications within the new facility. The project would not have been successful without the cooperation and focus of our dedicated staff. It was due to their great teamwork that allowed our clinics and services to open by Aug. 29 on schedule. Their efforts really made the difference.” Plans for opening a permanent chemotherapy treatment suite, healing garden, chapel/meditation room, cafe and auditorium/conference center is currently under way in phase 2 of the faciity's construction time line.     Friday, Oct. 7, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.